Palanahalli lake
Palanahlli lake is located in Palanahalli, Yelahanka, Bengaluru North(13.11634, 77.61541). The lake is around 9 hectares of area. The lake was rejuvenated by BBMP by providing walkway, guards, sitting benches, plantation etc. The lake is receiving storm water and untreated wastewater from the neighborhood which does not have sewer lines.
Map
of Palanahalli lake
The lake has only one inlet. BBMP has created
a small check dam like structure using boulders in the inlet which acts as a
settling tank which separates the solids from the liquids. There are wetland
plants like alligator weed, canna etc grown inside the structure. The water
near the inlet stinks, thick and dark in appearance. As the water moves out of
the settling tank, it becomes a bit clearer and the smell also reduces. The
lake is mostly covered by wetland and as the water passes through these
wetland, water becomes further purified. The wetland plants also include lotus
which is seen in bulk in one corner of the lake. The other end of the lake has
water where fishes are harvested. In a day ___kgs of fishes are harvested.
Fishes like Raghu, Katla, Tilapia, Marva etc are found. Alligator weed is taken
by the grass cutters which is used as fodder for cattle. In the words of BBMP
guard Miss Nalina, in a day 30 bags of alligator weed is harvested and the
fishes from the lake are too tasty.
Lotus grown inside the lake
Palanahalli lake which is mostly covered with
wetland plant
Miss Nalina was not aware about wetlands and
their function. She was thrilled to know wetland plants absorb the nutrients in
the wastewater and thus purify. She says, they earlier had a plan for removing
all the wetland plants in order to clean the lake and now they would keep the
wetland plants which are helpful.
Conclusion: Though Miss Nalina is not aware of wetlands and their significance, she has noticed the significant improvement in water quality towards the other end of the lake. Communicating to her about the wetlands and their significance helped her in relating the improvement in water quality to the wetlands.